Fly press or Arbour press

[UKRay]

I have a number of strip knives for cutting out small leather items and mostly I get stuff cut out on a hydraulic clicking press; but occasionally I'd like the facility to cut out a few pieces (rush orders, etc.) in my own workshop. The largest piece I want to cut is little more than a 2" wide x 14" long strap.

There is no way I have room for a full-on clicking press (the access difficulties, width and weight combined would make getting one of these into the work area impossible) but I wondered if anyone else has found a solution. I'm currently looking at old fly presses - they seem cheap and powerful but I have no idea what size to buy. Can anyone help please?

Same question about arbour presses - they seem reasonably inexpensive but are they powerful enough to do the job I need? What size should I look for?

Hope you can help.

Ray

Edited April 23, 2009 by UKRay

[celticleather]

Ray

I have an arbor press that I use for cutting out keyfobs and small items, but I find that the pressure is far too concentrated in a small area to facilitate cutting larger stuff. The same may be true for a fly press.

I have an old bookbinder's nipping press that copes reasonably well with larger items, but it still needs sharp knives and a fair bit of energy to achieve a good cut. It's made from solid cast iron, and weighs more than I do! The platen is about 14" X 9", but I think they come in a variety of sizes. It looks pretty much like the picture below.

Terry

[tonyc1]

Hi Terry. The press I have is identical to yours. I did have one about 3 feet x 2 feet and it took up too much room. I bought 3 presses from the Uni when they had a sale. A small one, the one I still use and the big one. It is very handy at times.

Tony.

[UKRay]

Thanks Terry and Tony - I have tried a bookbinder's press but mine was rather less robust than the one in the picture and I didn't want to spoil it. I thought I might try an arbor or fly press with a thick steel plate to spread the pressure - any idea what size (tons?) yours is?

R.

Ray

I have an arbor press that I use for cutting out keyfobs and small items, but I find that the pressure is far too concentrated in a small area to facilitate cutting larger stuff. The same may be true for a fly press.

I have an old bookbinder's nipping press that copes reasonably well with larger items, but it still needs sharp knives and a fair bit of energy to achieve a good cut. It's made from solid cast iron, and weighs more than I do! The platen is about 14" X 9", but I think they come in a variety of sizes. It looks pretty much like the picture below.

Terry

[china]

Have a look here they fit on your bench

http://www.lucris.com/

china

[UKRay]

Have a look here they fit on your bench

http://www.lucris.com/

china

They sure do, China - but they also cost £1000 - about US $1500 and I want to spend a fraction of that...

[celticleather]

Ray

I haven't any idea of the tonnage of pressure that the press exerts - nor any idea how to measure it! All I know is that I screw down the platen till its pips squeak, and then wait for the satisfying 'crunch' that tells me the cut is made. Occasionally I have to turn the work through 180 degrees (with the knife still in place) and give it another squeeze, just to ensure complete separation. It's OK for small-run cutting, but could be a bit tedious for large-scale work.

Terry

[sandycreek]

Hi Ray,

Not sure exactly which type of fly press you're talking about, as I believe what is called a fly press in the UK is referred to as a punch press on this side of the pond (but don't quote me on that.... it's been a while since I decided they were both out of my price range for a hobby blacksmith shop )

If I managed to load up the images right the first one should be a fly press and the second a punch press. If you can identify which (if either) you're talking about I might have some links/advice/etc as to how well it might work.

Thanks,

-Aaron

[UKRay]

Many thaks Aaron. The thing with the handle with balls on top is what we call a fly press over here - I have no idea what the massive looking thing is but I probably want one! <grin> Only joking, I haven't got the space - the fly press would do the trick if I only knew what size to get. there are plenty on eBay and they don't make a load of money over here. I used one for years to cut out purses, dog collars etc so I know they work as long as they have a sensible sized throat.

The arbor press I was talking about is also hand operated and seems to work on a cam arrangement... but what do I know? I have posted a picture so you know the sort of thing I mean.

Hi Ray,

Not sure exactly which type of fly press you're talking about, as I believe what is called a fly press in the UK is referred to as a punch press on this side of the pond (but don't quote me on that.... it's been a while since I decided they were both out of my price range for a hobby blacksmith shop )

If I managed to load up the images right the first one should be a fly press and the second a punch press. If you can identify which (if either) you're talking about I might have some links/advice/etc as to how well it might work.

Thanks,

-Aaron

[sandycreek]

there are plenty on eBay and they don't make a load of money over here.

The arbor press I was talking about is also hand operated and seems to work on a cam arrangement... but what do I know? I have posted a picture so you know the sort of thing I mean.

Hi again Ray,

I wish we had the problem of them being affordable This site may give you some information that is useful to some degree or another:

Fly press specs

If I remember correctly, those numbers were figured as an average over many different brands, but again don't quote me on that. Personally, for what you are describing, I'd look somewhere in the No. 3 through No. 5 range (always best to have more and not need it that need more and not have it). Throat depth will probably vary quite a bit from machine to machine. To move one of that size on your own you'd have to break it down into parts, but they are generally straightforward mechanics-wise so that shouldn't be too much of an ordeal. For cutting a longer strap like you were talking about, I'd look into finding a welder friend that could build you some kind of extended table/platen and a specialized top plate and maybe guides for the ram to distribute the pressure out a bit. Might end up being a bit more of a hassle over using an H-frame press ( see: here ) but at least you'd be the envy of at least one amateur leatherworker If you're interested, I might be able to do up some rough drawings of what I am talking about to make it a little clearer maybe.

And yes, I believe the rack and pinion type is called an arbor press regardless of where you are.

Thanks

-Aaron

P.S. If you're ever looking to make a bit of pocket money, you might look into buying up a bunch of fly presses there, putting them in a container, sending it across the pond, and selling them here. They aren't QUITE as rare as hen's teeth over here, but they're close to it.

EDIT to add for informational purposes: That second picture is a Punch press. A generally nasty and temperamental machine that at times can develop a taste for fingers, hands, and any other appendages that get within reach...

Edited April 26, 2009 by sandycreek

[Shorts]

Ray, is a hydraulic press overkill for what you're looking for?

[UKRay]

Ray, is a hydraulic press overkill for what you're looking for?

Just overkill for my pocket, Monica. A good Hydraulic press will cost twenty times what i will pay for a flypress. Fortunately I have just found a warehouse in Birmingham full of all kinds of presses at the sort of prices we would all like to pay... I'll check them out and report back. The guy who owns the place said I can can bring my knives along and try out the toys... I wonder if he would let me do that once or twice a week? Then I wouldn't need to buy one!

[TwinOaks]

What about fabricating one Ray? I've seen hydraulic presses made with three steel cross beams, two uprights (and the "T"s for feet), four strong springs, and a bottle jack. Seems the easiest way to get one the size you want, and you can pick the pressure for the jack. Subsitute wood (legs, feet, top rail) for a lot of the steel and voila!

Something like this, but scaled to your needs: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...Itemnumber=4711

Edited April 30, 2009 by TwinOaks

[UKRay]

I'll certainly give that some thought, Mike. I wonder if anyone else has ever used one of those Harbour Freight presses for cutting leather? I guess you might have to weld on a hunk of steel top and bottom - and get it level or you would simply tear the thing apart when you pumped the jack...

What about fabricating one Ray? I've seen hydraulic presses made with three steel cross beams, two uprights (and the "T"s for feet), four strong springs, and a bottle jack. Seems the easiest way to get one the size you want, and you can pick the pressure for the jack. Subsitute wood (legs, feet, top rail) for a lot of the steel and voila!

Something like this, but scaled to your needs: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...Itemnumber=4711